Roman Numerals Converter
Roman numerals are a numeral system from ancient Rome that uses letters of the Latin alphabet to represent values. They are still used today for clock faces, book chapters, movie sequels, the names of monarchs and popes, and the year of construction on buildings. This converter works in both directions: type a number to get its Roman form, or type a Roman numeral to get its value.
Valid for numbers from 1 to 3999.
Result
Publicidad
How it works
Roman numerals use seven symbols: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1000. Numbers are built by adding symbols from largest to smallest, for example XVII = 10 + 5 + 1 + 1 = 17. To avoid four identical symbols in a row, subtractive notation places a smaller symbol before a larger one to subtract it: IV = 5 − 1 = 4, IX = 10 − 1 = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400 and CM = 900. This system can represent any integer from 1 to 3999. Crucially, there is no symbol for zero and no way to write negative numbers: Roman arithmetic was built on counting positive quantities, and the concept of zero as a written figure only reached Europe centuries later with the Hindu-Arabic system, which is precisely why that system replaced Roman numerals for calculation.
Roman numeral chart: key numbers and years
This chart shows how the milestones of the system look, from single digits to whole years. To read any numeral, add the symbol values from left to right, subtracting whenever a smaller symbol sits before a larger one (as in IV = 4 or CM = 900). To write a number, break it into thousands, hundreds, tens and units and convert each part separately.
| Number | Roman numeral |
|---|---|
| 1 | I |
| 2 | II |
| 3 | III |
| 4 | IV |
| 5 | V |
| 6 | VI |
| 7 | VII |
| 8 | VIII |
| 9 | IX |
| 10 | X |
| 20 | XX |
| 40 | XL |
| 50 | L |
| 90 | XC |
| 100 | C |
| 500 | D |
| 1000 | M |
| 1990 | MCMXC |
| 2000 | MM |
| 2026 | MMXXVI |
Publicidad
Preguntas frecuentes
- What are the seven Roman numeral symbols?
- The seven symbols are I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500 and M = 1000. Every Roman numeral is built by combining these letters.
- What is subtractive notation?
- When a smaller symbol appears before a larger one, it is subtracted instead of added. This avoids writing four identical symbols in a row. Examples: IV = 4, IX = 9, XL = 40, XC = 90, CD = 400 and CM = 900.
- Why is 4 written as IV and not IIII?
- Standard Roman numerals never repeat a symbol four times. Instead of IIII, the number 4 uses subtractive notation: IV (one before five). The same rule gives IX for 9, XL for 40 and so on. This converter treats IIII as invalid.
- What is the largest number I can write in Roman numerals?
- With the standard system used here, the largest number is 3999 (MMMCMXCIX). Larger numbers required a bar over the letters (a vinculum) to multiply by 1000, which is not part of this converter.
- Is there a Roman numeral for zero?
- No. The Roman numeral system has no symbol for zero and no way to write negative numbers. It only represents positive integers, which is why this converter starts at 1.
- How do you write 2026 in Roman numerals?
- 2026 is MMXXVI. Break it down as 2000 + 20 + 6: 2000 is MM (two thousands), 20 is XX (two tens) and 6 is VI (five plus one), so joining them gives MMXXVI. The same method writes any year — for example 2024 is MMXXIV and 2025 is MMXXV.
- Why do many clocks show IIII instead of IV?
- Countless clock and watch faces use IIII for four rather than the strictly correct IV. There is no single accepted reason: common explanations are visual balance (IIII mirrors the heavy VIII on the opposite side), easier casting of the numerals, and older Roman practice that did not always enforce subtractive notation. It is a traditional exception on dials, not a rule of the system — this converter still outputs IV.